Latest first rounders lead Cardinals' new Top 30 prospects
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ST. LOUIS -- Picking in the top 10 of the MLB Draft twice in as many years for the first time in more than two decades, the Cardinals ultimately landed two prominent prospects who sit atop their Minor League system.
In infielder JJ Wetherholt and hard-throwing left-hander Liam Doyle, the Cardinals are hoping they uncovered two promising pillars of their future in the last two Drafts. The Cardinals drafted Wetherholt at No. 7 overall in 2024, and they landed Doyle with the No. 5 pick in this past July’s Draft.
Fittingly enough, Wetherholt -- the franchise’s Minor League Player of the Month for July -- and Doyle are ranked as the top two prospects in the Cardinals system by MLB Pipeline.
Wetherholt, the NCAA’s batting champion in 2023 when he played collegiately at West Virginia, has lived up to his billing as a hitter since being promoted from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis on July 7. In 21 games with the Redbirds, Wetherholt has slashed .295/.394/.615 with six home runs, 13 RBIs and two stolen bases. Additionally, he has walked (12 times) nearly as often as he has struck out (14 times).
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As for Doyle -- the Southeastern Conference’s leader in strikeouts-per-nine innings in 2025 -- he is working out at the Cardinals’ Spring Training headquarters in Jupiter, Fla., and he will soon be assigned to a Minor League club and pitch in games before the end of the 2025 season, per a team source.
Here is a look at the Cards’ Top 30 prospect re-rank by MLB Pipeline:
- JJ Wetherholt, SS/2B (MLB No. 6)
- Liam Doyle, LHP (MLB No. 34)
- Leonardo Bernal, C (MLB No. 74)
- Rainiel Rodriguez, C (MLB No. 99)
- Quinn Mathews, LHP
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Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list, which does not include new additions
Jump: Joshua Baez, OF (Preseason: NR | Midseason: 11)
After struggling much of the past four seasons, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Baez has finally started to show off his massive potential to the Cardinals in 2025. While splitting 92 games between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, the second-round pick from the 2021 MLB Draft has slashed .281/.384/.478/.862 with 13 home runs, 19 doubles, three triples and 57 RBIs. Not only has he significantly cut his strikeout numbers (89 in 391 plate appearances), he also is using his tremendous athleticism and speed to take advantage of foes on the basepaths. He has stolen 44 bases in 51 attempts, with 24 of those swipes coming with Double-A Springfield – one of the Texas League’s most dominant teams all season. Baez is one reason Springfield -- the first-half champions -- recently climbed as high as 30 games over .500.
Fall: Chase Davis, OF (Preseason: 10 | Midseason: 25)
The Cardinals' No. 21 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft has seen his production plunge this season after playing at three different levels in 2024. This season, he’s slashed .232/.351/.348/.699 with eight homers, 14 doubles and 39 RBIs in 91 games. At issue for Davis, 23, are his strikeout numbers (114 in 393 plate appearances) compared to his low walk totals (52). The Cardinals are hopeful that Davis' Minor League arc will mirror that of his time at the University of Arizona, where he initially struggled, but he ultimately became one of college baseball’s best power hitters during his junior season.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
No. 2, Liam Doyle, LHP (No. 5 in 2025 MLB Draft)
No. 10, Ryan Mitchell, SS/CF (No. 55 in 2025 MLB Draft)
No. 17, Nate Dohm, RHP (Trade with Mets)
No. 18, Blaze Jordan, 1B/3B (Trade with Red Sox)
No. 19, Tanner Franklin, RHP (No. 72 in 2025 MLB Draft)
No. 20, Jack Gurevitch, 1B (No. 89 in 2025 MLB Draft)
No. 27, Mason Molina, LHP (Trade with Rangers)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 65 -- JJ Wetherholt
Power: 60 -- Rainiel Rodriguez (Joshua Baez)
Run: 70 -- Nathan Church
Arm: 60 -- Church (Jesus Baez, Joshua Baez, Leonardo Bernal, Jimmy Crooks, Chase Davis, Yairo Padilla)
Defense: 60 -- Church
Fastball: 75 -- Liam Doyle
Curveball: 60 -- Tekoah Roby
Slider: 70 -- Andre Granillo
Changeup: 70 -- Luis Gastelum (Tink Hence)
Control: 55 -- Nate Dohm